‘Critical Race Theory’ resolution passed
The Butler Area School District school board passed a resolution 6-3 saying that the district will not teach students nor train teachers in theories like “Critical Race Theory.”
One of the things the resolution states is that “racism stands in direct opposition to our nation’s founding precepts that all people are created equal and endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights...”
District superintendent Brian White said a resolution is different than a policy. The board already has a non-discrimination policy in place that was updated at a meeting in December.
White said the resolution is more of a statement by the board to the decision-making body of the district, which is the school board.
“They are a political statement by the board,” White said. “Generally speaking I don’t weigh on a political matter; I will weigh in when it impacts a policy put forward, but we have policies in place now that we put forward that we will follow.”
The motion to draft the resolution was brought up by board members Bill Halle and John Conrad at the last school board meeting. Halle said at Monday’s meeting the goal of the resolution is to ensure people that Butler Area School District does not teach “critical race theory.”
“It’s a moving target but that is why we have it written the way it is,” Halle said. “This is to make it clear to the public we are not going to teach this.”
Almost every board member at the meeting weighed in on the meaning of the resolution and the implications of passing it.
Board President Al Vavro said he agrees that the board and district condemn discrimination, but writing a resolution about a “moving target” could be a moot point.
“I do think we have more than adequate safeguards we need to protect the values and mores of our community,” said board President Al Vavro. “My point is who knows what the next issue is going to be, and I just think if we have covered it adequately and with the safeguards we have, I just get concerned with how many times we’re going to have to go to another issue and do that.”
Conrad also said that the resolution reinforces the school board’s position.
“Theoretically we shouldn’t need this,” Conrad said. “We want to be absolutely clear, even to the point of redundancy that that’s the reason for our resolution.”
White reiterated to the board at the meeting that the resolution does not change anything written in school district policy.
Those who voted in favor of the resolution were Conrad, Halle, Jennifer Cummings, Jennifer Daniels-Wells, Thomas Harrison and Nina Teff, and those who voted against it were Vavro, Gary Shingleton and Mary Waggoner.
High school addition project
A representative from Eckles Construction Services, the firm working on the addition for Butler Senior High School, said crews have been able to lay the foundation for the planned gymnasium and the additional wing that will house the ninth-grade class.
The school board approved a change order Monday that will give the construction timeline some leeway as the ninth grade transitions to the senior high school.
“Because of timeline changes, for the LGI space off the cafeteria we have asked for a temporary wall to be put in place so we can use that as three classrooms while we are transitioning space,” White said.
The company could start electrical and plumbing work for the gymnasium and the classroom wing in March.
